NEA KAVALA, Greece -- Refugees in Greece have had a field day.Soccer players and fans from Syria and Iraq got a break from their stressful lives in migrant camps to play a match organized by Greeces state migration agency, launching a tournament that will include local amateur teams.The first game Friday was slow-paced, with white lines on the pitch unfinished. Spectators were seated on grass or on the terrace of a half-built home. There was dancing and drums at halftime, and children on the sidelines who shrieked at every turn of the game.After 90 minutes, the score was 1-1 for Hersos and Nea Kavala -- teams that took their names from refugee camps near Greeces northern border.Both players and fans appreciated the outing, describing it as a small first step toward a normal life for those who escaped war and were left stranded on their journey into Western Europe.This (helps us) forget the conditions inside the camp ... In the camp you are under pressure. The game helps us make a little bit (of) fun with our friends, Sherran Abdiy, a refugee from Aleppo, Syria and the goalkeeper for Nea Kavala team.The 21-year-old pharmacology students family home was destroyed in the civil war, and he traveled to Turkey and then Greece with his mother and 15-year-old brother. He hopes to make it to Switzerland and continue his studies.Now, however, he spends his days in a camp hastily set up by the Greek army and where authorities struggle to provide basic facilities.There are 60,000 people in Greece like him, halted on the trip to Europe after countries further north closed their borders in fear of being flooded with refugees. Most of the stranded have seen little of their host country, since the migrant camps are generally located outside Greek towns.European Union countries have been reluctant so far to meet their commitments to relocate refugees from fellow EU nations Greece and Italy, the two countries facing the brunt of the continents migration crisis.Fahed Al Haboun, a 22-year-old from Aleppo, turned up Friday to cheer for Hersos. His 5-month-old daughter was born in Greece.Im glad to see this happening, he said, speaking in broken English, standing at the side of the pitch still strewn with weeds. I dont have nothing to do (at the camp). I dont have to do anything, just waiting for my interview (for relocation) all the time.This week, the Greek government launched a program to integrate refugee children into the state school system, starting with 1,500 kids bused out of camps to 19 schools. The program is set to expand to 20,000 children.The reaction so far has been mixed. Greek parents at one school staged protests, voicing health concerns, while at another they gathered outside to applaud the refugees as they arrived.Giorgos Perperidis, the government coordinator at the refugee camps of Hersos and Nea Kavala, organized Fridays game, which included getting uniforms donated by topflight Greek soccer team PAOK: Light blue for Hersos, black-and-white stripes for Nea Kavala.People at the camps have to be given something to do, and they chose sport, he said. There will be more games with local clubs in the area and we already have the next match lined up.He said its not always easy to get things done, but we do what we can.Theres no rivalry here. Everyone was really excited about todays game. Its great to watch. These are good moments, he said.--Derek Gatopoulos and Theodora Tongas in Athens contributed. Follow Kantouris at http://www.twitter.com/CostasKantouris http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Benson-Mayowa-Jersey/ . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Jourdan-Lewis-Jersey/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Damontre-Moore-Jersey/ . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Joe-Looney-Jersey/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Jaylon-Smith-Jersey/ . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Wests Tigers veteran Dene Halatau will hang up his boots at the end of the 2016 NRL season.The 33-year-old utility, who has played 241 games for the Wests Tigers and Canterbury, confirmed his retirement on Monday.I felt as though the time is right and its something that Ive been thinking about for a long time now, Halatau said.Halatau won a premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005, before shifting to Canterbury in 2010 for a four-year stint.He then return to the Tigers on a two-year deal in 2014, and his contract was eventually renewed for another season heading into this year.I was grateful to the club, JT (Jason Taylor) and the coaching staff for giving me this year; I still feel as though Im playing good enough football to contributte well for the team, he said.ddddddddddddIve had a few little injuries over the past season that have just been quite frustrating more than anything.While Im still feeling okay I think its the right time to hang the boots up.Previously a back-rower, Halatau has become Taylors answer to the No.9 conundrum this season with hooker Matt Ballin injured and his preference to play Robbie Farah from the bench.He has great advice and sets a great example for every player at Wests Tigers, not just the young ones but the older guys also look to him for leadership and he will be sorely missed at the club, Taylor said. Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys White Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Wholesale Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo NFL Jerseys China ' ' '